1. Birth, childhood and formative years

10.1163/ej.9789004168237.i-499.11

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Chapter Summary

This chapter discusses prophecies regarding Shardza Rinpoche's birth, his birth place, parents and birth, his entering the door of the teachings, and receiving ripening and liberating instructions. Shardza Rinpoche was born in bsDa, his father was called bKra shis dga' and belonged to a long family line of Bon po practitioners. When Shardza as 9, his father was informed by bSod nams nor bu, an old monk from sTeng chen dgon pa, that dBra sprul rin po che had asked him to send his son to the monastery in order to take up ordination. At the age of 19 in 1877, Shardza became the personal retreat assistant of bsTan 'dzin dbang rgyal. Later on that same year and together with other people, he received from dBra sprul rin po che several tantric teachings as well as the Bru a khrid sngon 'gro'i tshig bshad and the corresponding instructions.